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Musicality in human vocal communication: an evolutionary perspective
Juan David Leongómez1, Jan Havlíček2, S Craig Roberts3
1Human Behaviour Lab, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia.
Summary
Musicality evolved from vocal communication to aid parent-infant bonding. This capacity, crucial for infant-directed speech (IDS), also influences adult communication and music today.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Cognitive science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Vocal modulations, similar to infant-directed speech (IDS) and music, are vital for social interaction.
- These modulations facilitate communication of intentions and mental states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a model for the evolution of musicality in relation to human vocal communication.
- To explore the role of sociality and bonding in the development of musicality-related abilities.
Main Methods:
- Integration of multiple existing theories on musicality and communication.
- Comparative analysis framework for testing the model in other species based on sociality and vocal communication complexity.
Main Results:
- A complex social environment with strong social bonds likely promoted musicality.
- Parent-infant bonds, particularly due to infant altriciality, may have been a key factor in musicality's evolution.
- Musicality's role extends beyond music to IDS and some adult-directed speech.
Conclusions:
- Musicality originally evolved to enhance parent-infant communication and bonding.
- This capacity continues to play a significant role in various forms of human vocal communication, including music and speech.
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